In Flames

HERETOIR – Solastalgia Review

HERETOIR – Solastalgia Review

By Owlswald on September 19, 2025 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, 48 comments

“Fall in the Pacific Northwest means two things: foggy air and the official start of sadboi season. And German post-black quintet HERETOIR are here to offer a choice soundtrack for the colder, darker months ahead. Since its inception as a solo project by multi-instrumentalist David Conrad in 2006, HERETOIR has been a mainstay in the blackgaze scene, crafting music that has been a long-standing source of catharsis while operating in the darkness with other well-known acts like Alcest and Fen. Solastalgia marks the trio’s fourth full-length album, but the first one we’ve reviewed here. Still, the group’s presence at AMG Industries isn’t entirely new.” Birds of gaze.

Anthony Ellis: Ashes of Reason – Crisis Catalyst Review

Anthony Ellis: Ashes of Reason – Crisis Catalyst Review

By Grin Reaper on August 5, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 12 comments

“In an age where technology is abundant and affordable, it’s never been easier for someone with a ditty and a dream to make their music a reality. Enter Ashes of Reason, the brainchild of one-man band Anthony Ellis, and his third full-length, Crisis Catalyst. Shouldering the responsibility to write, record, and produce your own album is painstakingly ambitious and requires deep wells of both grit and gumption. Calling the shots means you get to deliver your 100% pure, undiluted vision into the hungry earholes of curious listeners.” One-man crisis.

Yer Metal is Olde: Dark Tranquillity – Character

Yer Metal is Olde: Dark Tranquillity – Character

By Grymm on May 31, 2025 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Melodic Death Metal, 55 comments

“Once heralded as a promising hotbed of melodic death metal goodness, Gothenburg, Sweden wasn’t quite the same back in 2005 as it was in the mid-to-late 1990s. In Flames was busy chasing the nü-metal dream, trading twin guitar melodies and acoustic folklore and beauty for jumpsuits, dreadlocks, and simplistic riffage. At The Gates, once the spearhead of the entire Gothenburg movement, was long gone at that point, and wouldn’t reunite for another couple of years. It was up to Dark Tranquillity to put the city back on the map, and despite their own dalliances in moody goth territory, it would take 2002’s Damage Done to marry their trademark melodic sensibilities with their newfound love for electronic influences and dark motifs.” Damage merchants.

Eluveitie – Ànv Review

Eluveitie – Ànv Review

By Twelve on April 23, 2025 in Reviews, Folk Metal, 66 comments

“Unlike a certain Angry Metal Overlord, I really liked Origins. Up to 2014, I had only a dim awareness of Eluveitie, save that they were a Swiss group that did not believe in keyboards. Origins was my gateway into folk metal, an album I found exciting and refreshing, and Eluveitie’s live show in support of it is still one of my top concert experiences. For over twenty years, Eluveitie has been a force in folk metal. Armed with many instruments and a metal core, they are now on their ninth full-length album, Ànv. What have these giants of the genre cooked up for us this time?” Folk in a hard place.

Lik – Necro Review

Lik – Necro Review

By El Cuervo on April 17, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Lik have become a low-key favorite among the old school death metal nerds of Angry Metal Guy. Mass Funeral Evocation is one of stronger debuts from the last decade, while Carnage doubled down on its strengths. While I personally found Misanthrophic Breed less compelling, it had fans among other writers. It was therefore with high expectations that I embarked on this review.” Liking the dismembered entombed.

AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Nephylim – Circuition

AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Nephylim – Circuition

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 9, 2025 in Angry Metal Guy's Unsigned Band Rodeo, Melodic Death Metal, 53 comments

““AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö” is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the underground—the unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.” In the field with Nephylim.

Aversed – Erasure of Color Review

Aversed – Erasure of Color Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 20, 2025 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 80 comments

“Melodeath is an old, reliable friend for many a metalhead. Ever since the In Flames and Arch Enemies of the World took an anthemic and accessible version of the Gothenburg sound to the masses throughout the ’90s and ’00s, countless acts and other regional sounds have emerged from rollicking riff and less-than-deathly vocal inclusions. But combined with the right personal flair—a modern melding of blackened, jazzned, and altned influences much like contemporary wildcards Dawn of Ouroboros or Vintersea—melodic extreme metal forms have a growing presence in the hands of those who came of age with this musical history as their guide. Imitation breeds iteration, and, combined with adoration, the heart hopes to find a path alongside its infatuations, not just in shadow. Aversed walks the walk and Erasure of Color talks the talk.” Color theory.

The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard Review

The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard Review

By Steel Druhm on January 9, 2025 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 95 comments

“It seems like only yesterday I was writing about a supergroup helmed by Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity fame. That’s because I just covered Cemetery Skyline, his Goth rock project that dropped the very successful Nordic Gothic release late last year. Now in the blink of a Mind’s I, he’s back with the sophomore outing from The Halo Effect. This star-studded collective features various past members of In Flames. It’s essentially a salute to the early days of the Gothenburg sound, with an approach that conjures nostalgia of the glory days of both Dark Tranquillity and In Flames equally.” Perish in the flaming tranquillity!